Turning your teeth green - oral care that's good for the environment

Go green and grin big: how to help the planet while caring for your mouth

Going green might not be the first thing you think of while brushing your teeth. But with the help of new technology and a few helpful tips, you can keep your smile bright while saving the world.

• Turn off the tap Studies have shown that one person wastes an average of 90 glasses of water every day by leaving the tap running while they brush their teeth. Wet your toothbrush, put on the paste and go to town. You can even rinse from a cup to cut back even further.
• Digital X-rays With 70-90% less radiation than a normal x-ray it's better for you. Since going digital uses no chemical developers, it's better for the environment.
• Use greener tooth care products Choose a toothpaste that's free from lauryl sulfate. Find a mouth rinse that's alcohol free. Some chemicals found in both can upset the pH balance in your mouth which can lead to canker sores.
• Help your dentist conserve If you're looking for a dentist, find one that uses eco-friendly practices. If your dentist is great, but you're not a fan of the paper waste, suggest to them ways they can clean up their act. For an eco-friendly dentist, or to find suggestions on how your dentist can go greener, visit ecodentistry.org.
• Bag the paper and plastic bibs Ask for cloth! Reusable cloth products save 5000 pieces of paper and 5000 pieces of plastic from being used in a dental practice in one year.

Your dentist has a genuine interest in keeping you and your mouth healthy. We all have a genuine interest in keeping the earth healthy, too. To find out more ways you and dentistry can help the planet and the people living on it, visit ecodentistry.org for questions you can ask your dentist. Together, you and your dentist can keep things bright with every visit.